Did you know that our Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) and the Kentucky Talking Book Library were featured by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) on its website, http://www.imls.gov/profiles/profiles.shtm, and will be featured in its newsletter, Primary Source? Each month IMLS profiles programs or projects that use federal funding and exemplify why funds are granted to libraries.  This is great recognition and has been noticed by other state librarians, and special libraries serving people with disabilities. We were contacted by IMLS, so they already knew about our excellent program.

 Located in Seattle, WTBBL provides service to any resident in the state of Washington unable to read standard print material.  Thanks to a federal subsidy called “Free Matter for the Blind and Disabled,” we are able to mail books and materials anywhere in the state, free of charge.  Our services include audio books in digital form on a cartridge and for download, braille, large print, a radio reading service, and programs for children and adults.  WTBBL is unique and a leader in many ways.  It was one of the first regional libraries in the county after the passing of the Pratt-Smoot Act of 1931, and started out providing service to Montana and Alaska as well as Washington.  Until recently, we were the first and only library in our network to have locally produced audio and braille books available on our website for download.

 Though services have changed and advanced over the years since the first braille book was circulated in Seattle in 1906, WTBBL has maintained a wonderful program with the help of the dedicated staff and our amazing volunteers.  WTBBL volunteers do different tasks or projects like narrating books, transcribing braille, shelving books, and much more.  Each year the WTBBL volunteers contribute an average of 32,000 hours of work, almost doubling staffing.  Because of their dedicated work, WTBBL has stayed on the forefront of services for the blind and physically disabled.  Based on innovation, service, and satisfaction, WTBBL was honored as the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped’s (NLS) Network Library of the Year for 2009.  It is a great honor to be selected by representatives from libraries for the blind and physically disabled and leaders in the blindness community around the country.

 I think all of us at WTBBL would say the motivation and the joy that fuels our library comes from our patrons.  We get notes of thanks every day and here are a few comments:

 “I thank you for your magnificent service.  You’ve restored my joy of life.”

 “The digital books are a lifeline for me.  Thank you very much.”